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February 26, 2008


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NEWS

Carroll County to Participate in Severe Weather Awareness Week

By Linda Bolton
linda@mckenziebanner.com

Carroll County Office of Emergency Management announces that Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service have declared February 24-29 as “Severe Weather Awareness Week.”

Carroll County will be participating in several events throughout the week relating to severe weather preparedness.

County Emergency Management Director Janice Newman stated that with the back-to-back severe weather warnings experienced January 29 and February 5, persons should be reminded that staying alert day and night during severe weather events and having an emergency plan is of utmost importance.

Carroll County sustained only minor damage during those weather events, which delivered 50-60 mph winds, according to Newman.

“Carroll County sent a damage assessment team to Hardin County to assist with damage assessment there,” she stated.

“Individuals and families should have an emergency plan in place, whether business or personal, prior to extreme weather situations,” said Newman. “They should also determine ahead of time how they are going to communicate following a disaster.”

Newman reminds citizens that preparedness is the best defense. One easy way to prepare includes purchasing a NOAA Weather Radio. The area transmitter is located in the Vale community using the frequency 162.450 MHz and can be received on any standard NOAA Weather Radio.

The broadcast transmission originates from the regional National Weather Service office in Memphis and provides a coverage radius of approximately 40 miles. Counties included in the coverage area are Benton, Carroll, Henry and Weakley. The 1000-watt transmitter provides up to the minute weather forecasts and advanced warning of approaching severe weather such as a tornado. Weather radio receivers are available for low cost that will instantly be activated when important warning information is issued by the National Weather Service in Memphis.

Newman suggested families make preparedness plans and practice sheltering in safe areas of the home. She suggested putting as many walls as you can between yourself and the outside. Use pillows and cushions to cover with when sheltering and get to a lower floor if possible. Consider creating an emergency supplies kit with extra food, water, flashlights, extra batteries, small tools, and a portable radio that operates on batteries. Stock with blankets and first aid supplies as well.

Each school in the county has a NOAA Weather Radio, provided through grant funds, and access to immediate warning information. A “test warning” will be broadcasted by the National Weather Service between 9 and 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Newman said her office has provided information to all Carroll County schools, where individual tornado drills will be conducted during Severe Weather Awareness Week. This gives students and faculty an opportunity to practice the actual motions to go through if an actual warning is given. Also expected to practice tornado preparedness plans are local day cares, nursing homes, industries, hospitals, and government agencies.

Additionally, the Emergency Management Office will conduct its own drill. Following a Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting on Thursday, February 28 at 10 a.m. in the Carroll County Office Complex Conference Room, the Emergency Operations Center will conduct a tabletop exercise to coordinate responses and recovery, said Newman.

Carroll County has several designated shelter areas, should they be needed following a tornado. Those locations include:

McKenzie – McKenzie First Baptist Church, 619 Stonewall Street; McKenzie First United Methodist Church, 16 McTyeire Street; McKenzie Church of Christ, 16300 N. Highland; McKenzie Elementary School, 165 Brooks Avenue; McKenzie Middle School, 80 Woodrow Avenue; and McKenzie High School, 23292 Highway 22.

Huntingdon – Carroll County Civic Center, 201 Mustang Drive; Carroll County Special Learning Center, 14155 Paris Street; Huntingdon High School, 475 Mustang Drive; Huntingdon Middle School, 199 Browning Avenue; Huntingdon Primary-Elementary School, 191 Cox Street; Huntingdon Church of Christ, 18900 West Main Street; Huntingdon First Baptist Church, 108 Church Street; and Huntingdon First United Methodist Church, 201 Asbury Circle.

Trezevant – West Carroll Middle School, 100 Harber Street.

Lavinia – Milan Training Center, 235 Arsenal Lane.

Clarksburg – South Carroll Special School District, 145 Clarksburg Road.

McLemoresville – West Carroll Primary School, 8725 Highway 105.

Atwood – West Carroll High School, 1595 Highway 77.

Bruceton – Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special School, 29590 Broad Street; and Bruceton First Baptist Church, 30960 Broad Street.

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February 26, 2008